Ready to roll? All of us have baggage. Psychological. Emotional. But do we have the right baggage for flying the friendly skies?

(above) For the eco orbit set, we uncover EcoOrbis, a fun and functional traveler on wheels from our personal fav, Heys International, a Canadian luggage innovator around since 1986. Made of 100% recycled plastic and available as a 3-piece set ($376); 26-inch upright ($127) or nifty 21.5 inch carry-on ($111) for those quick solo flights. Choose from 7 sleek shades, including lilac, cobalt, copper and pewter. Nice interlocking system for schlepping.

(above) Durable and made of 100% recycled ABS plastic, their EcoCase 3-piece spinner luggage set is available right now at overstock.com ($311.99 ). Comes in standard black as well as silver, red, turquoise, green or pink for those who want to spot their gear a mile away.

(above) Don’t overlook these handy little bags. Think his/hers when on the road. Separating the dirty/clean ditties. Use them everyday for tucking away personal items or gym essentials as you traverse from work to play. Made of Ecotex, 100% recycled water bottles, these organizers can be purchased separately or in sets of either 3 or 5, in a striking array of nine colors. (shown, 5 piece packing cube set $49.97)

On the heels of preparing our spring gardens (yes, my container garden counts) – seems to come the desire to travel a little – visit old pals and explore new places. Take some time off … for bad behavior.

related: more eco travel on The Alternative Consumer

The Cliff House Resort & Spa, located high-atop the ruggedly scenic seaside cliffs of Ogunquit, Maine, has manifested its commitment to sustainability and the environment by installing one of Maine’s largest solar thermal systems. The installation uses 2,100 tubes on 70 collectors. That’s 10 times the size of an average solar project. The solar installation will save an estimated 11,000 gallons of propane annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 140,000 lbs. per year.

Solar energy will be used to provide heat and hot water for the Resort’s Spa building, which includes 32 guest rooms and 10 treatment rooms. The Resort estimates it will reduce fossil fuel consumption in this building by 30%.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as federal tax credits helped offset project costs and reduce payback to less than six years.

via: prweb

related: more eco travel articles on The Alternative Consumer

For twelve years, an organization called Conservacion Patagonica has been creating new national parks in the Patagonia region, spanning the countries of Chili and Argentina. Not only does this provide a basis for conservation efforts, but the organization also attracts travelers from all over the world. This provides opportunities for ecotourism, raising awareness for environmental issues as well as funds to support the expansion of national parks throughout Patagonia.

The park’s mission points out that: “Few conservation organizations in the world tackle the task of building new national parks, but we’re committed to creating parks that protect some of Earth’s last wild places while benefiting their community and nation.” The organization was founded in 2000 by Kristine Tompkins. She worked previously as the CEO of Patagonia clothing before initiating this sustainable and inspiring movement towards the preservation, mitigation and appreciation of the natural wonders of Patagonia.

The series of National Parks founded by Conservacion Patagonica currently includes Monte Leon National Park in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina as well as plans for the Future Patagonia National Park located in Aysen Region, Chile. This future park will span 650,000 acres of wetlands, forests, mountains, grasslands and rivers, maintaining and preserving the rich biodiversity found throughout Chile’s wild landscape.

The Conservacion Patagonica staff is supported by a large group of volunteers, interns, tourists and locals with a common passion for natural beauty and wonder. The organization maintains a satellite office in Sausalito, California and receives donations from around the world. The projects are funded largely by multiple foundations such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Arcadia Fund, the Butler Conservation Fund, and the Wallace Genetic Foundation to name a few.

For more information on this incredible, expanding project, visit: www.conservacionpatagonica.org

related: more eco travel articles on The Alternative Consumer

I recently had the unique opportunity to visit Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a spectacular city in the heart of an incredibly diverse landscape. Amongst the hustle and bustle of motorbikes, mango venders, and hand-crafted textiles lies a small village that houses, feeds, and educates children who suffer the remaining genetic effects of Agent Orange from the Vietnam War. This home is called the Friendship Village.

The Friendship Village was founded by George Mizo, an American veteran of the Vietnam War, in 1988. Mizo’s experiences during the war inspired him to create the Friendship Village. After the war, Mizo explained that, “The horrible experiences during the war and the suffering of everybody on all sides inspired me to do something that would be a living symbol of peace, reconciliation and hope”.  (more…)

The morning of my flight to New York from Tokyo my daughter, Danielle and I had a reservation to experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Much to our surprise we found ourselves at the Kooman Cultural Center, for a private lesson on the traditions and expected behaviors for the formal tea ceremony. This ritual is a social event and a time to clear one’s mind of the outside world. The objective is to create a moment in time for peace, harmony and calm for the guests. It is a meditation of being and an appreciation of the tea, the host and the environment. This includes admiring the room, artwork, and tea cups. We learned that the powdered green tea has a fascinating history and is used for medicinal purposes as well as enjoyment.

As the honored guest, it was my privilege to open the sliding Shoji doors and be the first to place my naked feet upon the matted floor. Centered on the wall before me (which would be considered the “Red Bird” in Feng Shui) was a work of art. It was an (more…)

New Year’s Resolution #9: Eat Well No Matter Where You Roam

This one’s for the road…are you listening Mr. Bourdain?  inBloom is a new app, created by 2 indie musicians who grew tired of eating poorly while on their way to their next gig… Andy Ross of OK Go and Eytan Oren of Eytan and The Embassy designed this user friendly app to be easily customized to suit one’s personal dietary and eco preferences — it features the nearest organic, locavore, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, raw, Paleo-friendly and environmentally-friendly businesses in New York City’s five boroughs as well as biz members of Musician’s Energy Conservation Alliance (MECA) … more cities will continue to be added throughout 2012. (more…)

German resort Waldseilgarten provides an opportunity for extreme travel and outdoor enthusiasts to take camping to the next level – spend the night of a lifetime camping high above the earth.

Located in Pfronten, Bavaria, Germany, the resort gives the chance, in addition to their other amenities like hiking, climbing, and ropes courses, for the camper to take refuge overnight in what is known as a “portaledge,” a tent suspension system that is normally used for climbers on overnight climbs.

Knowing that the initial idea may be somewhat intimidating, Waldseilgarten provides different portaledge experiences. Adventurers have the choice of trying to catch some winks sleeping on a tree-mounted platform at heights ranging from 100 to 300 meters, or they can opt for the full-on experience of spending an overnight stay on a cliff or mountainside platform at heights reaching a breathtaking 1,000 to 2,000 meters. (more…)

Days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping and the autumn leaves have begun to turn. However, it’s still not too late to squeeze in that summer trip that you haven’t had time for. Whether you’re planning a camping trip in Colorado or heading to Miami to soak up some rays at the beach, there are numerous ways to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling. Here are a few tips: (more…)

RecycleBank is a company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from local and national businesses. This past week they launched the Green Your Vacation Contest.

The contest is a nationwide challenge designed to inspire people to make eco-friendly decisions while on vacation. The Contest runs from today until July 31. It allows Recyclebank members to learn tips for making their vacations environmentally friendly and take challenges to earn Recyclebank points. The highest scorers and those who have referred the most friends have a chance to win more than 100 prizes including one of two grand prizes.  (more…)